Duas at Daybreak and Sunset

Be it known to you - may Allah grant you His support - that the traditions about the merits of doing acts of worship at the two hours of daybreak and sunset are too many to be counted. Likewise, too many are the litanies and supplicatory prayers that have been reported from the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) and his Household (a.s.) to be said at these two times. However, I will mention in this brief book a few of them, seeking blessings of Almighty Allah.

First: Ibn Baabwayh has reported through a valid chain of authority that Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) said, “He who recites Surah al-Tawheed, Surah al-Qadr, and Ayah al-Kursi before sunrise eleven times, his property will be protected against any feared matter.”

He (a.s.) is also reported to have said, “Whoever recites Surah al-Tawheed and Surah al-Qadr before sunrise, will be saved from sinning on that day even Satan exerts all efforts to make him commit a sin.”

Second: Al-Kulayni, Ibn Baabwayh, Shaykh al-Tusi, and other scholars have reported through valid chains of authority that Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) said: It is obligatory upon every Muslim to say the following litany ten times before sunrise and before sunset every day:

There is no god save Allah,

نہیں کوئی معبود سوائے اللہ کے

alone without having any partner.

وہ یکتا ہے، کوئی اس کا شریک نہیں

To him is the kingdom and to Him is all praise.

حکومت اسی کی اور حمد اسی کے لیے ہے

He gives life and causes to die

وہ زندہ کرنے اور موت دینے والا ہے

while He is Ever-living and never dies.

اور وہ زندہ ہے اسے موت نہیں،

In His hand is the good

بھلائی اسی کے ہاتھ میں ہے

and He has power over all things.

اور وہ ہر چیز پر قدرت رکھتا ہے۔

According to some narrations, the following statement is added to this litany:

He gives life and causes to die and

زندہ کرنے موت دینے والا اور موت دینے والا اور زندہ کرنے والا ہے۔

The following statement was mentioned in some narrations and missed in others:

while He is Ever-living and never dies.

وہ زندہ ہے اسے موت نہیں

In His hand is the good

بھلائی اسی کے ہاتھ میں ہے۔

Apparently, whatever form is said is acceptable although it is more acceptable to say the most comprehensive form.

Confirming the significance of this litany, some narrations hold that if you miss saying this litany at these times, you may make up for it later on, because, on the word of other narrations, it remits from sins.

Third: Ibn Baabwayh and other scholars have reported through many chain of authority that Imam Ali ibn al-Husayn and Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) said, “He who repeats the Takbir statement (i.e. Allahu-akbar) one hundred times at sunset will be given the reward of one who has manumitted one hundred slaves.”

According to another authentic narration, Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) is reported to have said: He who repeats the Takbir statement one hundred times before sunrise and one hundred times before sunset, Almighty Allah will record for him the reward of one who has manumitted one hundred slaves; and he who repeats the following doxology (zikr) ten times, will be granted by Allah ten rewards. If he repeats it more, he will be granted more rewards:

All glory be to Allah, and in praise of Him.

خدا پاک ہے میں اس کی حمد کرتا ہوں

Fourth: Through a valid chain of authority, Ibn Baabwayh reports Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) to have quoted the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying: In Paradise, there are chambers whose inside can be seen from their outside and whose outside can be seen from their inside. These chambers are dwelled by some of my people who speak good wording, serve food (generously), exchange greetings, and pray at night when the others are asleep. To speak good wording means to repeat the following doxology (zikr) ten times every morning and evening:

All glory be to Allah,

پاک و پاکیزہ ہے وہ خدا

all praise be to Allah,

اور حمد اسی کے لیے ہے۔

there is no god save Allah,

اس کے علاوہ کوئی خدا نہیں ہے۔

and Allah is the Greatest.

وہ سب سے بزرگ ہے۔

In the book of al-Mahasin, al-Barqi has reported through an authentic chain of authority that Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) related the following:

One day, the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) passed by a man who was sowing a plant in his orchard. The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) stopped and said to him, “May I lead you to a thing that is firmer in sowing, quicker in yielding, and sweeter in fruit?”

“Yes,” the man answered, “You may, Allah’s Messenger.”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) instructed:

“In every morning and evening, you may say the following:

All glory be to Allah,

پاک و پاکیزہ ہے وہ خدا

all praise be to Allah,

اور حمد اسی کے لیے ہے۔

there is no god save Allah,

اس کے علاوہ کوئی خدا نہیں ہے۔

and Allah is the Greatest.

وہ سب سے بزرگ ہے۔

If you do, for each statement you will be given trees in Paradise from various kinds of fruits. These statements are the ever-abiding, good deeds about which Almighty Allah has said in His Book that they are best and more enduring than the wealth of this world.”

Fifth: Ibn Baabwayh has reported though a valid chain of authority that Imam Ali(a.s.) said:

Whoever repeats these verses three times before or after evening, will not miss any good item on that day, and will be saved from all evils. The same reward will be for one who repeats them in the morning:

Therefore, glory be to Allah when you enter upon the time of the evening and when you enter upon the time of the morning;

پس اللہ پاک ہے جب تم شام کرتے ہواور جب تم صبح کرتے ہو

and to Him belongs praise in the heavens and the earth,

حمد اسی کے لیے ہے آسمانوں اور زمین میں

and at nightfall and when you are at midday.

جب تم عشا کرتے ہو اور جب ظہر کرتے ہو۔

Sixth: In the book of al-Mahasin, al-Barqi has reported through an authenticated chain of authority that Imam al-Rida(a.s.) said: Whoever repeats the following litany three times in the morning and in the evening must not fear any devil, despotic ruler, leprosy, or mycobacterium. As for me, I repeat it one hundred times:

In the Name of Allah, the All-beneficent, the All-merciful.

خدا کے نام سے جو بڑا رحم کرنے والا مہربان ہے

There is neither might nor power except with Allah, the All-high, the All-great.

کوئی قوّت و طاقت نہیں ہے سوائے اللہ بزرگ و برتر کے۔

The same litany has been previously cited to be repeated seven times after the dawn (fajr) and the Evening Prayers.

Seventh: Through a valid chain of authority, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have related that the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) had missed one of Ansar (people of al-Madinah who gave shelter and supported the Holy Prophet and the earlier Muslims). When the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) met him afterwards, he asked, “What kept you away from us?”

The man answered, “It was poverty and long disease, Allah’s Messenger.”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) said, “May I teach you some words that remove poverty and disease away from you?”

“Yes,” the man answered, “You may, Allah’s Messenger.”

The Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) thus said: In mornings and evenings, you may say:

There is neither might nor power except with Allah.

کوئی قوّت و طاقت سوائے اللہ کے نہیں ہے۔

I put my trust in the Ever-living (Lord) Who never dies.

میرا اعتماد خدا کے زندہ ہونے پر ہے جس کے لیے موت نہیں ہے۔

All praise is due to Allah, Who has not taken a son

ساری حمد اس اللہ کے لیے ہے جس نے کسی کو اپنا بیٹا نہیں بنایا،

and Who has not a partner in the kingdom,

کوئی اس کے ملک میں شریک نہیں،

and Who has not a helper to save Him from disgrace;

کوئی اس کی کمزوری کا ولی نہیں۔

and magnify Him with all magnificence.

تکبیر اور بزرگی اسی کے لیے ہے۔

Eighth: In many validly reported traditions, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said: Repeat the following guard-seeking prayer ten times before sunrise and before sunset:

I pray for the protection of Allah, the All-hearing the All-knowing,

میں پناہ چاہتا ہوں سمیع و علیم کی

against the evil suggestions of the devils

شیطان کے شر سے

and I pray for Allah’s protection lest they be present with me.

اور اس بات سے کہ وہ میرے پاس حاضر ہوں۔

Verily, Allah is the All-hearing, the Allknowing.

بے شک خدا ہی سننے والا اور جاننے والا ہے۔

According to some narrations, the third statement is reported in this form:

and I pray for Your protection, O my Lord, lest they be present with me.

یا رب میں تیری پناہ لیتا ہوں کہ وہ میرے قریب آئیں۔

Other narrations have reported this guard-seeking prayer as follows:

I ask for the protection of Allah, the All-hearing the All-knowing,

میں پناہ لیتا ہوں سننے جاننے والے اللہ کی

against the evil suggestions of the devils

دھتکارے ہوئے شیطان سے

and I pray for Allah’s protection lest they be present with me.

اور پناہ لیتا ہوں اللہ کی کہ وہ میرے قریب آئیں۔

Verily, Allah is the All-hearing, the Allknowing.

بے شک خدا ہی سننے والا اور جاننے والا ہے۔

Ninth: In the book of Falah al-Sa’il, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said:

What prevents you from saying the following supplicatory prayer three times every morning and three times every evening?

O Allah Who causes the changes of hearts and sights,

اے دلوں اور نگاہوں کے پلٹنے والے

(Please) make firm my heart on the course of Your religion,

میرے دل کو اپنے دین پر ثابت رکھنا

cause not my heart to stray off after You have guided me,

اور ہدایت کے بعد اس میں کجی نہ پیدا ہونے دینا۔

and bestow upon me mercy from Your Presence.

اپنی بارگاہ سے مجھے رحمت عنایت فرما،

Surely, You, only You, are the Bestower.

تو بہترین عنایت کرنے والا ہے۔

And save me from Hellfire in the name of Your mercy.

اپنی رحمت سے مجھے جہنّم سے پناہ دے دے۔

O Allah, extend my lifetime,

خدایا میری قبر میں وسعت عنایت فرما۔

expand my sustenance for me,

میری روزی کو وسیع فرما دے

cover me with Your mercy,

اپنی رحمت کو مجھ پر شامل کردے۔

and if I am listed in the Mother of the Book (source of the ordinance) with the unhappy,

اگر میں تیری بارگاہ میں بدبخت ہوں

please include me with the happy ones,

تو مجھے نیک بخت بنا دے

for surely You efface what You will, establish what You will,

اس لیے کہ سارا اختیار تیرے ہاتھ میں ہے تو جس چیز کو چاہتا ہے باقی رکھتا ہے

and with You is the Mother of the Book.

اور جس چیز کو چاہتا ہے مٹا دیتا ہے۔

Tenth: Al-Tusi, may Allah have mercy upon him, and Ibn Tawus report the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying: Whoever says this word of glorification one time in the morning and one time in the evening, Almighty Allah sends an angel to Paradise with a silver shovel. The angel then gathers some clay of Paradise, which is sweet smelling musk, fixes a plant, surrounds it with a fence, places a door on it, and writes on the door that this plant is for so-and-so (i.e. writes the name of that person on the door):

All glory be to Allah, and in praise of Him.

پاک ہے میرا رب اورحمد اسی کے لیے ہے

All glory be to Allah, the All-great.

پاک ہے میرا رب جو عظیم ہے۔

In another validly reported tradition, Sayyid Ibn Tawus reports Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) to have said that whoever says the aforesaid doxology (zikr) intending to glorify Almighty Allah but not to express amazement, Almighty Allah will erase one thousand of his sins, record for him one thousand rewards, decide for him one thousand rights of intercession, raise him one thousand ranks, and creates from these words a white bird uttering these words of glorification continuously up to the Resurrection day and the reward of the bird’s glorification words will be recorded for that person.

Eleventh: Al-Qutb al-Rawandi has reported that Imam AliAmeer al-Momineen(a.s.) quoted the Holy Prophet (s.a.w.a.) as saying: He who begins his day without mentioning the following four graces, I fear lest he will lose the bliss he is enjoying:

All praise be to Allah Who has introduced Himself to me

ساری حمد اسی اللہ کے لیے ہے جس نے مجھے اپنی معرفت عنایت فرمادی

but has not left me blind-hearted.

اور دل کا اندھا نہیں بنایا۔

All praise be to Allah Who has made me of the people of Muhammad,

ساری حمد اللہ کے لیے جس نے مجھ کو پیغمبرؐ کی امّت میں بنایا

may Allah bless him and his Household.

درود و سلام ہو ان پر اور ان کی آل پر

All praise be to Allah Who has made my sustenance lie in His Hands,

اور حمد اسی اللہ کے لیے جس نے میری روزی اپنے ہاتھ میں رکھی

but has not made it lie in the hands of people.

اور لوگوں کے ہاتھوں میں نہیں قرار دی۔

All praise be to Allah Who has covered my defects

ساری حمد اس اللہ کے لیے ہے جس نے میرے گناہوں پر پردہ ڈالا،

and has not exposed me among the creatures.

میرے عیوب کو چھپا دیا اور مجھے لوگوں کے درمیان رسوا نہیں ہونے دیا۔

Twelfth: In the book of al-Balad al-Amin, it is reported that Salman the Persian, may Allah be pleased with him, said:

Any servant who repeats the following doxology (zikr) three times in the morning, Almighty Allah will most surely fend off seventy kinds of afflictions, the easiest of which is distress, from him:

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds.

حمد اللہ کے لیے ہے جو جہانوں کا رب ہے

All praise be to Allah with praise that is very much,

حمد اللہ کے لیے ہے بہت زیادہ حمد

pure, and blessed.

پاک و پاکیزہ بابرکت حمد۔

Thirteenth: Through a valid chain of authority, al-Kulayni reports Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) to have said: In the morning, you may say the following litany:

I receive this morning having faith in Allah,

میں نے صبح کی خدا پر ایمان کے ساتھ

following the religion and traditions of Muhammad,

محمدؐ کے دین اور ان کی سنّت پر

the religion and traditions of 'Ali,

علیؑ کے دین اور ان کی سنّت پر

and the religion and traditions of the Successors.

ان کے اوصیاء کے دین اور ان کی سنّت پر

I believe in their secret and openness,

میں ان کے پوشیدہ اور ظاہر

and their present and their absent.

اور ان کے حاضر و غائب پر ایمان رکھتا ہوں

I pray for Allah’s protection against what the Messenger of Allah,

اور پناہ لیتا ہوں خدا کی اس چیز سے جس سے رسول اللہ

may Allah bless him and his Household,

صلی اللہ علیہ و آلہ و سلم پر

Ali, peace be upon him,

حضرت علی علیہ السلام

and the Successors, peace be upon them, have sought protection against.

اور ان کے اوصیاء علیہم السلام نے خدا کی پناہ طلب کی

I desire to Allah for what they have desired for.

اور ان چیزوں کی خدا سے رغبت کرتا ہوں جن میں انہوں نے رغبت کی۔

There is neither might nor power except with Allah.

نہیں کوئی طاقت و قوّت مگر جو خدا سے ہے۔

Fourteenth: Al-Kulayni has reported that Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) mentioned many merits for saying the following doxology (zikr) in the first hour of morning before sunrise:

Allah is the Greatest. Allah is the Greatest with all greatness.

اللہ بزرگ تر ہے، اللہ بزرگ تر ہے کبریائی میں

All glory be to Allah in morning and evening.

اور پاک و پاکیزہ ہے اللہ ہر صبح و شام

All praise be to Allah, the Lord of the Worlds, with very much praise.

اور حمد اللہ کے لیے بہت حمد جو جہانوں کا پروردگار ہے

No partner has He.

اس کا کوئی شریک نہیں

May Allah bless Muhammad and his Household.

اور خدا رحمت فرمائے محمدؐ و آل محمدؐ پر

Fifteenth: In the book of al-Balad al-Amin, Imam al-Sadiq(a.s.) is reported to have said: No tribulation will afflict one who repeats this litany three times in the morning until evening, and no tribulation will afflict him who repeats it three times in the evening until the next morning:

In the Name of Allah with Whose Name nothing can ever harm

اس اللہ کے نام سے جس کے نام کے ساتھ

in the earth or in the heavens.

زمین و آسمان میں کوئی شئے نقصان نہیں پہنچا سکتی ہے

And He is the Allhearing, the Allknowing.

وہ خدائے سمیع و علیم ہے۔

Sixteenth: Al-Kulayni, Ibn Baabwayh, and other scholars have reported through authenticated and valid chains of authority that Imam al-Baqir (a.s.) says: Prophet Noah (a.s.) was described as most grateful servant (indication of Qur’an, 17:3), because he used to say the following doxology (zikr) every morning and evening:

O Allah, I call You to witness for me

خدایا میں تجھے گواہ بناتا ہوں کہ

that whatever bliss or welfare in religious or worldly affair that I receive in every evening or morning

صبح و شام مجھے جو بھی نعمت یا دین و دنیا کی عافیت ملی ہے وہ تیرے ہی طفیل میں ہے،

are from You alone; there is no partner to You.

تو خدائے وحدہٗ لا شریک ہے۔

All praise and all thanks be to You from me for these,

حمد تیرے لیے اور شکر تیرے لیے ہے

until You are pleased, O our Lord.

یہاں تک کہ تو ہم سے راضی ہوجائے

According to other narrations, Prophet Noah (a.s.) used to repeat the following doxology (zikr) ten times every morning and evening:

O Allah, whatever bliss or welfare in religious or worldly affair that I receive in every morning

اس صبح کی جو نعمت یا دین و

are from You alone; there is no partner to You.

دنیا کی عافیت میرے پاس ہے وہ سب تیرا ہی کرم ہے تو وحدہٗ لا شریک ہے۔

All praise and all thanks be to You from me for these, until You are pleased and after Your pleasure.

تیرے لیے حمد اور تیرے لیے شکر ہے یہاں تک کہ تو ہم سے راضی ہو۔

However, to say any of the two doxological formulas is good.